The case against surgical intervention for scoliosis in adolescent patients.

The case against surgical intervention for scoliosis in adolescent patients.

Scoliosis surgery in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients isn't medically necessary and has proven poor long-term outcomes. In fact, a 50 year follow up study showed the majority of untreated patients had a higher quality of life than scoliosis surgery patients just 16.9 years after the procedure. Not good.

We need a better way. Work is under way to develop a neuro-muscular rehab based scoliosis spine treatment that is out-performing every single scoliosis brace in existance and will eventually eliminate the "need" for scoliosis surgery in the future. The CLEAR Institute is leading the way and combined with the advent of genetic testing for scoliosis (Scoliscore) can actually start working towards a cure for the condition by eliminating environmental factors in patients with an elevated genetic predisposition.

Exciting new work in the field of eipgenetics is also providing promise of being able to "turn off" active scoliosis genes that will hopefully result in reducing the elevated genetic predisposition for future generations.